International Animal Rescue
Dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of suffering animals

Annual Review 2007

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IAR News

September 2007

IAR speaks out against the Great British Circus scandal

IAR members demonstrate peacefully against the Great British CircusDuring September members of International Animal Rescue demonstrated peacefully outside the site of the Great British Circus in Tonbridge, Kent.

The circus boasts lions, tigers, camels and zebras among its acts, arrogantly claiming that this is the circus is ‘for real animal lovers.’ IAR protestors were well received by members of the public, the majority of whom supported our stance against the use of wild animals in circuses and were keen to join our campaign.

The show must not go on: Circus scandalAlan Knight, CEO of IAR, said: "These magnificent animals spend a lifetime in captivity, with endless hours travelling from town to town in small cages, just for the entertainment of an audience whose numbers thankfully are dwindling. Circus animals lead miserable lives that bear no resemblance to the way nature intended them to live in the wild, simply to bring in money for the circus by performing an inane and repetitive series of tricks.

"In this day and age most people are shocked to learn that there are still circuses in the UK which exploit animals. There is no reason whatsoever to maintain this archaic and cruel tradition in an era when attitudes to animals and animal welfare have become more enlightened.

"Nor has the circus any educational value in terms of teaching people to respect animals and appreciate and conserve different species in their natural environment."

The circus is in Kent until 22 September and IAR is urging people in Kent to join peaceful protests at the site to demonstrate their support for an end to the use of animals in circuses.

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November 2008
IAR in talks about Europe's 'forgotten animals'
Max Farrugia from International Animal Rescue in Malta recently attended a meeting in Brussels to discuss what can be done to help Europe's 'forgotten animals'.

November 2008
IAR presses exotic pet trade issue in Brussels
International Animal Rescue representative Max Farrugia attended the fourth ENDCAP conference in Brussels from 9-11 November.

November 2008
A win for greyhounds in Massachusetts
On 4 November the people of Massachusetts, USA voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Greyhound Protect Act. This legislation will phase out commercial dog racing in the state by 2010.

October 2008
Help the Street Animals of Morocco (HSAM)
International Animal Rescue has twice assisted with the treatment of cats and dogs in Morocco by a group of local and foreign volunteers. The initiative was led by vet nurse Claire Sedgewick. She has produced a report describing their work.

October 2008
Sainsbury's seal protest update
On 29 October we entered discussions with Sainsbury's officials and now await a favorable response to our demands for a statement of their intention to stop killings seals.

October 2008
Seals protest outside Sainsbury's demanding an end to shooting: POSTPONED
UPDATE: The protest has been postponed as a result of Sainsbury's willingness to meet and discuss how the seal killings can be avoided.

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